Yamaha U3

The Yamaha U3 is the piano that most teaching rooms, music departments, and serious home players end up choosing, and it has held that position for more than half a century. At 131cm it is the tallest instrument in Yamaha's U series, and the extra height over the U1 gives it longer strings and a larger soundboard. The result is a fuller, more powerful sound with genuine weight in the bass and the dynamic range that advanced repertoire demands.

This example is presented in the classic black polyester finish, in a cabinet 154cm wide and 67.5cm deep. It is a professional instrument rather than a domestic one, built to take daily practice and to keep its regulation while doing so. This piano has been assessed and prepared by our team at The Piano Gallery.

Available to purchase online or to try in person at our Oxfordshire showroom. Contact us to arrange a viewing or to discuss delivery and part-exchange options.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is the Yamaha U3 so widely used in schools and teaching studios?

Because it is consistent and it lasts. Yamaha built the U series to a repeatable standard, so one U3 plays much like another, which matters enormously when a student practises at home on one instrument and takes lessons or exams on another. The action is precise and even, the tuning holds well, and the build tolerates heavy use. For an institution buying a piano that will be played all day, that reliability is worth more than tonal individuality.

What is the difference between the Yamaha U1 and the U3?

Height, and everything that follows from it. The U3 stands 131cm; the U1 is 121cm. Those extra 10cm mean longer bass strings and a bigger soundboard, which produce a noticeably richer, more powerful sound and a wider dynamic range. Both are professional instruments and both are excellent, but the U3 is the one to choose if you want the maximum an upright can give. We usually have both in the showroom and are happy to let you play them side by side.

Is a used Japanese Yamaha U3 a safe thing to buy?

It is one of the safer used purchases in the piano market, provided the individual instrument has been properly checked. U3s were built to last and there are a great many of them, so the model itself is a known quantity. What varies is the history: how heavily it was played, how it was stored, and whether the action has been regulated. That is the part we take care of. This piano has been assessed and prepared by our team, and we are happy to talk you through its condition in detail before you commit.

Will a U3 be too much piano for a beginner?

Not at all, and there is an argument that it is exactly the right piano to start on. A U3 has no ceiling, so a learner will never outgrow it, and a responsive, well-regulated action makes early technique easier to develop rather than harder. The practical questions are budget and volume. A U3 is a genuinely loud instrument in a small room, though the practice pedal helps considerably.

What is involved in delivering a piano of this size?

A U3 weighs well over 200kg, so it is a job for a specialist piano moving team rather than a general removal firm, and we handle that for you. What we need to know in advance is the route in: doorway widths, tight turns, and any stairs. Mention these when you enquire and we will plan the move properly. Once it is in place the piano will want a tuning after a few weeks, when it has settled into the humidity of your home.